Switch operating and locking mechanism.



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62891 h1 eases No. 838,834. PATENTED DEG. 18, 1906. A. ANDERSON.

SWITCH OPERATING AND 'LOCKING MBG'HANISM.

APPLICATION FILED MAR.19,190'6.

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ALFRED ANDERSON, OF DETROIT CITY, MINNESOTA, ASSIGNOEI OF ONE- FOURTH TOASAHEL G. VEDGE, ONE-FOURTH TO HALVOR RASMUSSON, AND ONE-FOURTH TO PETERK. HASLERUD, OF DETROIT CITY, MINNE- SOTA.

Specication of Letters Patent.

Patented Dee. 18, 1906.

Application filed March 19,1906. Serial No1 306,872.

To LH 'LU/1,0711, it Tlv/ty concern:

Be it known that I, ALFRED ANDERSON, a citizen of the United States,residing at Detroit City, in the county of Becker and State ofMinnesota, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in SwitchOperating and Locking Mechanism, of which the following is aspecification.

The object of my invention is to provide an improved switch-operatingmechanism which is provided with means for automatically and securelylocking the switch-points by direct engagement therewith and whichembodies comparativelyT few and simple parts, which will be durable inconstruction and efficient in operation for the purposes for which theyare intended.

The invention consists, essentially, of the combination withswitch-points and their switch-bars of meansfor directly acting againstthe switch-points to hold them locked and means for actuating theswitchbar, the switch-bar-actuating means being so arranged that it willfirst throw the switch and then actuate the switch-point locks, oneaction being always antecedentto the other, so that the switch-lockingmeans will be out of the way when the switch-points are moving from oneside of the line to the other and their locking means only be broughtinto operative relation after they have been properly positioned. Bythis means it is insured that the switch-point-locking means will notinterfere with the proper actuation or movement of the switch-points.

For a full description of the invention and the merits thereof and alsoto acquire a knowledge of the detailsof construction of the means foreffecting the result reference is to be had to the following descriptionand accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a plan view of myimproved switch operatingand locking mechanism. Fig. 2 is a transverseview thereof on an enlarged scale and on the line :c of Fig. 1. Figs. 3,4, and 5 are bottom plan views illustrating the parts in differentrelative positions.

Corresponding and like parts are referred to in the followingdescription and indicated in all the views of the drawings by the samereference characters.

Referring to the drawings, the numeral 1 designates the permanent railsof the track,

and 2 the switch-points, connected t0 the switch bar 3. 4 designates theheadblock, and 5 the switch-stand mounted thereon. Supported by theswitch-stand 5 is the vertical crank-shaft 6, provided with the usualoperating-arm 7, having a hinged handle portion 8, designed to be throwndown into the usual sockets 9 on the switch-stand and preferably lockedtherein to hold the switch in either closed or open position. Theswitch-bar 3 is provided at its ends adj acent the switch-stand with alongitudinal slot 10, opening at its inner end into a short transverseslot 11. The switch-operating rod 12 is connected at one end to thecrank of the shaft 6 and is provided at its o posite end with a pin 13,fitted to work in t e slots 10 and 11, and said switch-operating rod 12is also provided with a fork 14, one member of which is provided with alateral extension 15, as shown. The shaft 16 is journaled alongside oneof the permanent rails 1 and is preferably supported by the head-block 4and the neXt adjacent tie, and said shaft is provided with a crank-arm17, connected by a link 1S to a crank 19 on the end of a rockshaft 20,said latter shaft being journaled in hangers and preferably extendingacross the track along that face of the tie carrying one end of theshaft 16 that is adjacent the headblock 4. The rock-shaft 20 has tworadially- 4extending fingers 21, designed to be yswung upwardlyalongside of the switch-points in engagement therewith to lock the samewhen the rock-shaft 20 is turned about its longitudinal axis. It is tobe understood that the rock-shaft 20 is actuated directly from the shaft16 and indirectly by means of the crank-shaft 6 and switch-operating rod12. To accomplish this result, the switch-operating rod 12 has its fork14 embracing the shaft 16. A spring 22, coiled around said shaft 16,presses against the forked end of the switchoperating rod 12 in adirection to throw the same into the laterally-extending or transverseslot 11, and the shaft 16 is provided with oppositely-extending wings23, between which the lateral extension 15 of the fork 14 has play. Y

In describing the practical operation of my improved switch-lockingmechanism it will be assumed at the outset that the parts are in IOO`the same` the position shown in Fig. 3. If then the crank-shaft 6 beturned to throw the switch, the switch-operating rod 12 will draw theswitch-bar 3 in the proper direction, with the pin 13 seated in thetransverse slot 11 and heldin said slot by the action ofthe spring 22upon the fork 141 of the operating-rod. 12. By this movement of theswitch-operating rod 12, which is the initial movement thereof to throwthe switch-points, the lateral eXtension 15 of the forked end of thesaid rod will leave its position under the adjacent wing 23 oftherock-shaft 20, but will have no effect iuponlsaid rock-shaft, thelatterbeing now in transverse slot 11 and move inthe longitudinal slot10, so that the operating-rod 12 will have a relative movementindependently of the switch-bar. (See Fig. 5.) This further and relativeindependent movement of the vthrowing or operating :mechanism results in:the lateral extension 15 acting upon the other wing 23 to Erock theshaft 16 and likewisethe shaft 2O inthedireetion to raise the fingers21alongside of and in contact with the `switch-points, 'thereby securelylocking Conversely, a reverse movement of the switch-throwing -mechanismwill result vin 7a limited independent movement thereof with Irespectyto the switch-bar 3, and this limited movement will result in firstrocking :the shaft 2O in the reverse direction to depress its'iingers 21until the pin 13 shall have come opposite the transverse slot 11,whereupon the spring 22 will move the operatingrod :12 ina direction tocause the said pin to enter the transverse slot. Hence tlie continuedmovement of the switch-operating .mechanism will then effect themovement of .the switch-points,

Fromfthe foregoingdescription, in connection with vthe-accompanyingdrawings, it will -be seen Athat I have provided simple and ef- :fective,means for both throwing the switchpoints and Vlocking the same, suchmeans embodying constructions and arrangements of :the parts whereby theswitch-throwing meehnamely, the switch-throwing mechanism. Hence therewill always be insured that the switch-points are first thrown to theproper position before the locking-fingers are thrown up into engagementwith the switch-points, and subsequently the latter will not interferewith the proper movement of the switchpoints.

Y Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is- 1. Thecombination with switch-points of a transverse rock-shaft provided withfingers designed to extend alongside of the switch-poiiit to lock thesame, said shaft being provided with a crank, a longitudinal shaftprovided with a crank having a link connection with the other crank andalso provided with oppositely-extending Wings, a switch-bar connected to`the switch-points and means for vactuating said switch-bar to move theswitch-points in one direction or the reverse, said means including aswitchoperating rod arranged for a vlimited movement independently ofthe switch-bar and provided witha-,lateral extensionadapted to contactwith one or the other of said wings, for the purpose specified.

2. The combination with switch-points `of means for locking the same, aswitch-throwing mechanism arranged to also actuate the locking means,means whereby an initial .movement of the switeli-tlirowing means in onedirection will throw the switch-points without moving the switch-locking.meansand whereby a continued movement of the switchthrowing mechanismwill `be permitted independently of the switch-points and actuate theswitch-locking means.

3. Switch operating and locking mechanism comprising switeh-points, aswitch-bar secured thereto and provided with a longitudinal slot and atransverse slot opening at one end into each other, means for lockingrthe switch-points, a switeli-operatiiig rod and means `for actuatingthe same said `rod being provided with a pm working in said slots` aspring acting against said switch-operating rod in a direction to throwthe pin into the transverse slot, whereby the operating-rod, when movingvthe switeh-poiiit in one direction will be permitted to have acontinued movement independently thereof, and means whereby theoperatiiig-rod will actuate the locking means upon said yindependentmovement.

11. Switch operating and locking mechanism, comprising switch-points, aswitch-bar connected thereto and provided at one end with a longitudinalslot and with a `transverse slot opening into each other at one end, arock-shaft provided with fingers designed to extend up alongside of theswitch-points to lock the saine, a shaft operatively connected to saidrock-shaft and .provided with oppositely-extending wings, switch-throw-IOO IIO

IZO

ing mechanism including an operating-rod having a pin working in saidslots and provided also with a lateral extension designed to engage saidwings, and a spring tending to move said switch-operating rod in adirection to throw said pin into the transverse slot of the switch-bar.

5. Switch operating and locking mechane ism, comprising switch-pointsprovided with a switch-bar, said bar being formed at one end with alongitudinal slot and a transverse slot opening into each other at oneend, a rock-shaft provided with fingers designed to extend up alongsideof the switch-points to lock the same, a shaft 16 having a crank andlink connection with the rock-shaft to actuate the same and providedwith oppositelyextending wings7 switch-throwing mechanism including anoperating-rod provided with a forked end designed to embrace said shaft16 and also provided with a pin working in said slots and with a lateralextension designed to engage with said wings, and a spring coiled aroundthe shaft 16 and adapted to bear against the forked end of theoperating-rod in a direction to throw the pin into the transverse slot.

6. The combination with switch-points of means for locking the same,said means including a longitudinally-extending shaft 16 provided withoppositely-extending wings,

a switch-bar connected to said switch-points, a switch-actuating rodprovided with a lateral extension adapted to act against one or theother of said wings to move the switchlocking mechanism in one directionor the reverse, and means whereby the initial movement of theswitch-actuating rod in one direction will throw the switch-pointswithout contact between the lateral extension and said wings and wherebya continued movement of the switch-throwing mechanism in the samedirection will cause the contact of said extension with one of saidwings to actuate the switch-locking means.

7. The combination with switch-points of locking means thereforincluding a longitudinally-eXtending shaft provided withoppositely-eXtending wings, a switch-bar connected to saidswitch-points, and a switchactuating rod connected to said switch-barand arranged for an initial movement independent of the swtch-bar, saidrod being provided with means for engaging said wings to actuate theswitch-locking means.

In testimony whereof I afIiX my signature in presence of two witnesses.

ALFRED ANDERSON. [L. s.`

Witnesses:

J. O. SEARLE, W. H. DONALDSON.

